LAHORE: With the armed troops of Pakistan Army and Rangers (Punjab) deployed at Gaddafi Stadium and the airport on Monday, the police authorities also intensified security by deputing over 18,000 personnel for the two PSL cricket matches.

The personnel of the Army and the Rangers were deployed in and around the stadium, airport and the hotel.

“The Punjab government has made security arrangements for international cricketers equal to that of the state guests,” sharing details of the security plan, operations DIG Dr Haider Ashraf told Dawn.

He said the security plan was devised in three phases under the separate supervision of the senior police officers including the DPOs.

The pre-PSL security measures were reviewed on Monday under which massive combing operations were carried out in the provincial capital.

During search operations over 2,500 tenants were checked, picketing was enhanced on major roads of the city and the heavy deployment was made at the entry/exit points of the provincial capital.

He said the police also established some “safe houses” on the main routes of the cavalcade from the airport to the hotel and the Gaddafi Stadium to meet any emergency situation.

The surveillance was being made through the CCTV cameras and a central control set up at the civil secretariat.

The DIG said the police during search operation inspected 550 bus stands besides railway station.

The rooftops of the buildings marked by the police and other law-enforcement agencies on the routes of the cavalcades, and in the surroundings of the stadium have also been occupied by the shooters and commandos.

The arrangements were also made on Monday for aerial surveillance of the cricket matches through choppers, besides sealing the surroundings of the stadium, he said.

Some 50 containers were provided to the police to close the roads leading to the Gaddafi Stadium.

The police authorities also added a new feature to the security plan by providing the cops with a number of boats directing them to ‘patrol’ in the Lahore Canal from The Mall underpass to the Muslim Town, the DIG said.

Another official said the Lahore capital city police officer (CCPO) sought Rs15 million from the inspector general of police for executing the security paradigm.

For the purpose, the CCPO has dispatched a request to the IGP to provide funds on emergency basis.

The traffic wardens have been directed to assume their assignments from today (Tuesday morning) to ensure smooth traffic flow.

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2018